SCOPE headlines for the beginning of May...

FAITH COMMUNITY MEETS TO DISCUSS FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION

This morning’s All Faiths Family Violence Breakfast was a great success, drawing over 30 leaders of various faith communities in Sarasota County to learn more about family violence prevention. They viewed “Battered, Bruised, and Broken,” the SCOPE Stories Project documentary produced in conjunction with its study. Leaders also heard a presentation given by Judge Nancy Donnellan and Pastor Bruce Wismer of Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, which hosted the breakfast sponsored by First Watch. Following the presentation, participants discussed their concerns about family violence in their congregations as well as in the community at large and current counseling and study programs available to their congregations. Surveys were filled out to collect information on current programs and ideas for useful tools to help educate their congregation about family violence. SCOPE would like to congratulate the faith community for taking this initiative and partnering, regardless of faith, to put an end to abuse in our community.

EIGHT AGING MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Eight Aging Study meetings remain during the month of May, in which SCOPE would like to get your input on the following topics: Economic & Workforce Issues, Tuesday, May 10, from 8:30am to 10:30am, Healthcare & Supportive Services, Wednesday, May 11 from 4 to 6pm, Housing, Tuesday, May 17 from 8:30am to 10:30am, Intergenerational Opportunities, Wednesday, May 18 from 4 to 6pm, Lifelong Learning, Tuesday, May 24 from 8:30am to 10:30am, Mobility & Transportation, Tuesday, May 24 from 8:30am to 10:30am, Neighborhood Connections, Wednesday, May 25 from 4 to 6pm, and Wellness & Active Living, Thursday, May 26 from 4 to 6pm. For more information on the specific topics and meeting locations, log on to www.scopexcel.org or call 365-8751.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR AGING SURVEY

The NORC project is looking for volunteers to participate as interviewees or interviewers in a needs assessment survey. NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities) is a federal demonstration project designed to test innovative strategies to empower seniors to age in place. Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS) is working in collaboration with Catholic Charities, Senior Friendship Center and USF to develop the local project. This is a non-denominational project helping seniors age in their own neighborhoods. This is a great opportunity to participate in a local project! Interested in finding out more? Contact Pamela Baron, NORC Project Coordinator, JFCS at 941-366-2224 or pbaron@jfcs-cares.org.

RACE AND ECONOMICS

SCOPE volunteers continue to explore the possibilities at the intersection of race and economics. A group of about a dozen volunteers is working on actions that would build the economy of Newtown and other minority neighborhoods. This is important to protect the existing cultures and communities that are threatened by displacement from the development boom. The table is being widened as tools such as development corporations and community development financial institutions are considered. Stay tuned for more as the study progresses…

THIRD CLASS OF CIT TRAINING GRADUATES

Last Friday, 36 law enforcement officers graduated from Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training given in Sarasota County. CIT Training was a recommendation of the 2003 Mental Health Report and is based on a Memphis Tennessee program that teaches law enforcement officers about mental illnesses and people in mental health crises. The officer learn how to de-escalate a situation and connect people in crisis to help. Sarasota County has had three rounds of CIT training, for a total of 80 officers trained from local sheriff and police forces.

MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS AT SARASOTA FARMER’S MARKET TOMORROW

Tomorrow, May 7th, Mental Health Education Month volunteers will be on hand at the downtown Sarasota’s Farmer’s Market to answer questions and talk to people about mental health organizations and services in Sarasota County. This is part of a busy calendar of Mental Health Education Month activities, including:
- Educational booths at Sarasota County libraries every Thursday this month.
- Two fundraising events to support NAMI and Mental Health Community Centers.
- A Coastal Behavioral Healthcare seminar on living wills and trusts for adult children with mental illness.
- SCOPE’s documentary film “Good Days, Bad Days” running regularly on Channel 19.
For a full calendar of events, visit SCOPE’s website www.scopexcel.org or call Cat Clouse at 365-8751.

EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS TO HOLD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON MENTAL HEALTH

On May 11th and 18th, Emotions Anonymous will present a round table discussion on how this 12 step program has been able to help many people deal with their emotional difficulty and regain their stability. The program will run from 7 until 8:30PM and will be held at Faith Church located on the corner of Beneva Road and 12th Street in Sarasota. There will be no charge for attending this meeting. For additional information please call Bob at 957-1056.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JEFF ANGLIN, NEW MENTAL HEALTH COLUMNIST FOR NATURAL AWAKENINGS

Local relationship and substance abuse counselor Jeff Anglin has a new title – Columnist. Anglin, who in 1998 founded the Family Emergency Treatment Center, the first 24-hour walk-in facility for substance abuse and mental health in the State of Florida, will be writing a monthly column for Natural Awakenings magazine called “Conscious Relationships” beginning in May. Don’t forget to check it out in the next issue.

SCOPE OUT AND ABOUT

SCOPE associate director, Suzanne Gregory, will make a Redevelopment and Infill presentation to Bayou Oaks Neighborhood Association on May 10th, 7pm at Ringling School of Art & Design, Room CJ-9. The public is invited. If you or your group would like to learn more about how you can affect the way your community is changing, please call SCOPE at 365-8751.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

SCOPE would like to say thank you to Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and Sarasota County Government for their continued support, well after their founding dollars. Also, a special thank you goes out to first-time SCOPE donor Nancy Zamboni for her recent gift to SCOPE.